DESCRIPTION FIGlet prints its input using large characters (called ``FIGcharacters'')made up of ordinary screen characters (called ``sub-characters''). FIGlet output is generally reminiscent of the sort of ``sig‐ natures'' many people like to put at the end of e-mail and UseNet messages. It is also reminiscent of the output of some banner programs, although it is oriented normally, not sideways.

FIGlet can print in a variety of fonts, both left-to-right and right-to-left, with adjacent FIGchar‐ acters kerned and ``smushed'' together in various ways. FIGlet fonts are stored in separate files, which can be identified by the suffix ``.flf''. In systems with UTF-8 support FIGlet may also sup‐ port TOIlet ``.tlf'' fonts. Most FIGlet font files will be stored in FIGlet's default font direc‐ tory.

FIGlet can also use ``control files'', which tell it to map certain input characters to certain other characters, similar to the Unix tr command. Control files can be identified by the suffix ``.flc''. Most FIGlet control files will be stored in FIGlet's default font directory.

You can store FIGlet fonts and control files in compressed form. See COMPRESSED FONTS.